Colonel track coach Matt Pantusa brought his men’s sprinting team to another level when he discovered a tall, lanky speedster named Jamaal James at an AAU track meet in Ohio . James, a native of Moreno Valley, Calif., was rewarded for his indoor efforts earlier in the year by being named to the Southland Conference All-Track Team, after placing third in the 400-meter dash.

This outdoor season, James is looking to take first place at the Southland Conference Championships, as he has one of the top three times in the SLC this year.

James’ time of 47.46 is the Nicholls record and was at one time the highest rated time in the conference; however, the record could fall any time the sophomore runner steps into the blocks.

“I plan to run in the 45 (seconds) high at Conference,” James said. “I’m not trying to be cocky, but I put in the work to do what I got to do.”

Recently the top time was claimed by the same runner that edged James out at the SLC Indoor Championships, so James will use that as motivation to being named the top runner in the Conference.

“It’s motivating,” James said. “The guy that is in first now, barely beat me out at indoor, so hell yeah its motivating.”

James is a passionate runner, who was influenced by his father growing up. James’ father ran the 400-meter dash when he was in high school, so it was just natural for his son to follow in his father’s footsteps.

James started off slow, before maturing into the runner he is today.

“At first, I was sorry at track,” James said. “I remember in my freshman year I ran a 64 (seconds). That was horrible.

“Then my dad started motivating me, and I started to get better and better,” James said.

In California, James competed with top-notch Olympic-caliber competition.

James trained and ran with Chris Williams, who was a member of the Jamaican Olympic team.

“The caliber of competition is higher in California than it is here in Louisiana,” James said. “When training with runners like Williams, you have to hang with them, because if you don’t, then they ridicule you. This helped make me a better runner.”

Even now as he competes at Nicholls, James is still competing with his friends back home.

“I know what my friends are running back home, so I always have to keep up with them and run better than they do,” James said.

Another runner who has had an impact on James is his sister, Mercedes, who is also a member of the Nicholls track team.

“I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for my sister,” James said. “She is my support and my home away from home.”

Before racing, James listens to various musical artists such as Outkast, Limp Bizkit, and Tupac Shakur to get himself in the mood to race.

“I like to listen to music that gets me going,” James said. “Once I’m in the blocks, I then concentrate on getting out to a good start. I want to explode out like a rocket.”

When racing, James uses different strategies.

“After running for so long, you learn to judge other runners in the race to determine whether you need to speed up or pace yourself.”

James is academically a junior, majoring in management with a concentration in human recourse management.

After graduating, James plans on going into the restaurant industry. He used to be a manager at a local restaurant in his hometown.

During his off time, James likes to play basketball and football, but said he would not play any basketball during track season because of the injury factor.

When at home, James likes to street race his car and go club hopping, but reiterates that running is his favorite thing to do.

“Track and field is my anti-drug,” James said. “I relieve a lot of stress when I run.”

James eats lots of carbohydrates and drinks a lot of water in preparation for races. He also reduces his intake of fatty acids.

To make extra money, James works part-time delivering pizzas.

“People are more laid back here than in California,” James said. “When I deliver pizzas here, people let you in their houses, and that’s something you seldom see in California.

“Delivering pizzas is nice, because you can meet some beautiful women here in Thibodaux,” James said.